Tube or flue cleaner.



No. 761,586. PAM-:MBD` MTA:Y"31', 1904.-:

, T. J. HART.

TUBE 0R PLUB CLEANER.

APPLICATION IILBD-00T.2,1 902.

No MODEL.

f l n Z 7 'l l y l mmf me' Nonms PETERS no., Pno'murno.. wAsHmaomo. c,

LINO.' 761586;

Patented May 31, 1904.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS J. HART, .OF BUFFALO, NEWYOEII, yAssIeNOR1 BY MEsNE ASSIGNMENTS; To `LIBERTY MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF

rITrsBIIEG, PENNSYLVANIA. j

I [TUBE on ELUE CLEANER. f

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. Y761,586, dated Maysl, 1904.

Application ned October 2, 1902-.

or flue cleaner of that class in which the scale-l -removing devices or cutters are carrIed by a head which is rotated by a turbine-wheel actuated by fluid under pressure delivered to the turbine-wheel through ahollow tube or pipe,V which is connected to the cleaner` and serves as the handle for manipulating the fcleaner `while in operation. l f

" a longitudinal sectional elevation of atube or iue `cleaner embodying the'invention and 'showing in section a portion of a curvedI tube or lfluein which the cleaner is placed. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectionv through the cleaner in lineZQ, Fig. 1. Fig. 3' is a transverse section through theturbine. Fig. .tis a section through the turbine in line 4 4, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a section throughfone of the scale-cutters in line 5 5, Fig. 1. Figs. Gand 7 are respectively afragmentary longitudinal sectionalv elevation and a transverse section in line 7 7 Fig. 6, showing a slightly-different formy of cleaner.' Figs. Sand 9 are similar views of another form of the cleaner. d

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 to 5 of the drawings, A represents the hollow body or casing ofthe cleaner which carries the turbine and which is connected to the forward end of a tube or pipeuB, which serves asthe manipsmaila. 125,634.1@0 model.)

vulating-handle for the cleaner andthe conduit for theactuating fluid for the turbine-Wheel.

The pipe B is preferably aflexible hose or tube and isvconnected to the casingA by a univer- "sal joint of any usual or suitable construction. When the device is operated, the tube B is connected to a source of supply of Water under pressure, steam, compressed air, or other moving fiuid. C represents the turbineshell, Awhich is movably mounted in the body or casing A and whichl carries the turbine- ,wheel andthe scale-cutters, The turbine-shell is universallyv mounted in the body or casing in such a mannerthat the shell can tilt or assume an inclined vposition in any direction in the body or casing. In the construction shown in Fig. l the turbine-'shell isprovided with an yenlarged front portion, the periphery of which is of convex spherical curvature, as indicated at c, and this spherically-curved portion bears in a corresponding concave spherically-curved surface Z at the front end of the body or casing. This surface d is formed on the casing and a ring D, which is screwed on a threaded portion of the body or casing and which is preferably held from turning or disengagement therefrom kby a lock-screw el' or other suitable means. j A stop is provided for limiting the angular movementof. the turbineshell in the casing; In Fig. l this stop is in the form of lugs E or arms projecting ra' dially from therear reduced end of the shell and adapted to engage the inner wall of the casing or body: F .repres\ents theturbinewheel, which Inay bel of any usual construc- 'tion and which is journaled in a` cylindrical chamber f', formed in the front end of the turbine-shell. t The turbine-wheel shown is ,provided with inclined -radial bladesv and is preferably journaled on ball-bearings in the Vfollowing manner: f represents a central in a ball-cup carried by the shell. VThe forsgf ` `of' the casing.

ward end of the shaft is provided with a cone which bears on a circular row of balls f2 located in a ball-cup carried by the hub of the turbine-wheel. The turbine -wheel may be journaled in any other suitable manner. f represents ports which extend through the turbine-shell, preferably at an angle, as indicated in Fig. 4. These ports communicate in all positions of the turbine-shell with the interior chamber or hollow of the casing A, so as to deliver the motive iiuid to the blades of the turbine to rotate the la`tter. H represents the scale-cutters or cleaning devices. These cutters are of the usual form, consisting of hardened steel, toothed or serrated, disks which are mounted on a journal 7i'. Each cutter-journal projects forwardly from the forward end of a swinging arm h2, which is pivoted at its rear end to lugs 7b3 on the hub of the turbine-wheel. When the turbinewheel is rotated, the arms are thrown outwardly by centrifugal force to cause the cutter to strike and remove the scale on the interior of the tube or flue. The outward movement of the arms is limited by their rear ends engaging with the hub of the turbine-wheel. The manner of securing the cutter-journals to the arms is preferably as follows: The journal passes through a longitudinal circular hole in the arm, the rear end of the journal having a fiat face or shoulder lf, which bears flat against a cooperating fiat face or shoulder on the swinging cutter-arm. it rep'- resents a key `or cotter pin which passes through registering holes in the journal and arm. By this construction the retaining-pin can be readily removed and the journal detached from the arm; but the journal cannot turn in its bearing-hole and shear off the pin.

In the construction shown in Figs. 6 and 7 the turbine-shell I is provided at its front end with a convex spherical surface which bears in a concave spherical surface formed in a ring z', secured to the casing e" of the cleaner. The reduced rear end of the turbine-shell is also spherieally curved and bears in a concave spherical face formed on a diaphragm or bridge 2, which extends across the chamber The bridge or diaphragm is provided with one or more openings 5 for the passage of the actuating fluid for the turbine, and the turbine-shell is provided with suitable delivery ports or passages for directing the fluid against the blades of the turbinewheel. In the construction shown in these views, Figs. 6 aridi, the stop for limiting the angular movement of th'e tu rbine-shell consists of an angular flange 'or rib j on the bridge or f diaphragm which surrounds the reduced rear in Figs. 6 and 7, is provided with a large front portion having a universal bearing in the front part of the casing and a rear reduced portion la, which has a convex spherical face bearing on a concave spherical face 71, formed in a disk or plate K. This disk K, which'is of smaller diameter than the chamber in the casing of the cleaner, so as to leave an annular passage around the same for the turbine-actuating Huid, is not fixed to the casing of the cleaner, but is supported in the following manner: The forward end of the tubular handle B of the cleaner or the coupling which connects the same with the casing` is provided with a hollow spherical forward end or head L. This spherical head is held in the cleaner-casing by a ring Z,which is screwed on the rear end of the casing around the spherical head in said ring and is free to move universally in said ring. The forward portion of the spherical head L bears in a concave spherical face formed in the rear side of the disk K. Owing to the opposite curvature of the bearing-faces on the disk for the turbine-shell and the spherical head L, the disk is held from movement. The disk properly retains both the turbine-shell and the spherical head L in their proper relation in the cleaner-casing. The spherical head L is provided with one or more holes Z for the passage of the motive fluid. In this construction the disk K is provided with an annular flange m, against which the reduced rear portion of the turbine-shell is adapted to strike to limit the movement of the latter. The form of the device shown in Figs. 8 and 9 provides a very compact construction in which the casing is universally connected to both the turbineshell and the end of the pipe or tubular handle for the device.

In the several forms illustrated in the drawings the turbine-shell, together with the turbine-wheel and the scale-cutters, which are carried by the shell, is capable of universal movement in the casing of the cleaner, so that the head can assume anynecessary angular position relative tothe casing to enable the cleaner to be readily passed through and operated in a tube or flue having comparatively sharp bends or curves. This construction also permits the turbine-wheel and cutters to move to one side and pass a projecting portion of a scale which has not been rcmoved when the device is being removed from the tube or iue.

The turbine --wheel could be universally mounted in a fixed shell or casing; but the movable shell shown is preferred, as the correct relative position of the wheel-blades and fluid-ports in the shell is always maintained regardless of the position of the wheel.

I claim as my inventionl. The combination of a supporting-body, a turbine-wheel loosely mounted on said body and adapted to assume an angular position IOO IIO

relative thereto, one or more flue-cleaning devices connected to said turbine, and means for conveying an operating Huid to said turbine-wheel, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of a hollow casing, a turbine-shell loosely mounted in said casing and adapted to assume an angular position relative thereto, a turbine-wheel journaled in said turbine-shell, a flue-cleaning device connected to said turbine-wheel, .and means for conducting `a motive uid to said turbine wheel, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of a hollow casing, a turbine-shell loosely mounted in said casing and adapted to assume an angular position relative thereto, a turbine-wheel journaled in said turbine-shell., a {lue-cleaning device connected to said turbine-wheel, means for conducting a motive fluid Vto said turbine-wheel, and a stop for limiting the movement of the turbine-shell, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of a hollow casing, a turbine-shell universally mounted in said casing and provided with fluid-ports communieating with the chamber of said casing, a turbine-Wheel journaled in said turbine-shell, cutters pivoted to.said turbine-wheel, and means for conducting an operating fluid for said turbine to said casing, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of a hollow casing, a turbine-shell provided with a convex spherical surface bearing on a concave spherical surface in said casing, and provided with fluid-ports, a stop for limiting the movement of said turbine-shell in said casing, a turbinewheel journaled in said turbine-shell, one-or more flue-cleaning devices connected to said turbine, and means for conducting an operating fluid to said turbine, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination of a hollow casing, a turbine-shell provided with a convex spherical face bearing on a concave spherical surface provided in said casing, said turbine-shell having a convex spherical surface at its inner end, and al partsupported in said casing and provided With a concave spherical surface on which said convex spherical surface at the inner end of said turbine-shell bears, substantially as set forth. l

7. The combination of a hollow casing, a turbine mounted in one end of said casing and movable to assume an angular position relative thereto, a hollow tube movably mounted in the oppositeendof said casing, anda common device for retaining said turbine and said tube in position in said casing, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination of a hollow casing, a turbine-shell universally mounted in one end of said casing and provided with a convex spherical surface, a turbine wheel in said shell, a tube having a spherical head movably mounted in the opposite end of said casing, and a disk arranged between said turbine-shell and spherical head, and provided on opposite sides with concave spherical surfaces on which lsaid turbine-shell and spherical head bear,

substantially as set forth.

9,v The combination of a cutter, a journal therefor, an arm provided with a hole in which said journal engages, cooperating fiat faces on said \journal and arm, and a pin cono necting said journal and said arm, substan tially as set forth. v

Witness my hand this 23d day of Septem- THOMAS J. HART.

i ber, 1902.

Witnesses:

JNo. J. BONNER, C. M. BENTLEY. 

